We build ground-breaking games and content for some of the world’s biggest publishers including Microsoft, Sony, Apple and Sega. Sumo Newcastle joined the Sumo Digital family in January of 2018. As a former CCP Games studio, we have a solid history of cutting-edge development, and now with Sumo, a spectacular future of ‘AAA’ game development for some of the biggest and best publishers in the world.

It’s an exciting time to be part of Sumo, winners of the Develop: Star Awards 2019 Best Studio and GI Biz 2020 Best Places to Work; big things are on the horizon and we want you to be part of our continued journey. Join us!

The role @ Sumo Newcastle

Sumo Digital is looking for a UI Artist to come and join the team in the Newcastle studio. This person will create engaging and functional 2D and 3D graphics, including menu screens, HUD, and all additional user interface graphics.

Reporting to the Head of Art, you will work within our studio UI team, aiding the delivery of all areas of UI to a high standard also staying within budgetary and memory constraints. You will be an integral part of the UI team, working on some exciting projects with the full support from the wider team around you. The ideal candidate will be self-driven and passionate about consistently pushing the quality of the UI to create the best visuals possible to enhance the user’s experience.

This position is open to remote, hybrid and in-studio working.

Responsibilities:

Work alongside the Senior UI Artist to develop, explore and style the games user interface and develop icons, buttons, frames and panels etc,
Create user interface concepts and motion graphics to demonstrate transitions and interactions as well as execute them within the game engine,
Explore and assemble visual material to define and improve the visual style of the game,
Solve problems effectively and creatively with an ability to scale quality when time or deadlines require it,
Collaborate closely with UX designer to iterate and consider the gameplay implications of the design and the overall player experience,
Detach yourself from personal tastes to approach and problem solve from the players perspective,
Always thinking about how we can be better.

Skills and Experience:

Ideally, 5 years gaming industry experience with at least 1 AAA game shipped,
Proven experience of a full game cycle from initial design/ideas all the way through to final in-game UI,
Unreal Engine experience is highly desirable,
Diverse UI style portfolio from casual friendly games through to mature titles (experience in the Adobe graphics suite essential),
Great illustration skills to develop the UI from freehand sketch to accurate vectors,
Clear consideration of colour theory (shape, scale, form, silhouette),
Basic understanding of 3D packages and using them as part of a concept workflow,
Can-do attitude with confidence in your ability to work to a design spec / brief whilst able to use your own intuition to fill in the gaps,
Fastidious attention to detail in order to push the visual and technical barriers further,
Knowledge of game engine UI systems such as UMG a bonus,
An open approach to collaboration and feedback from others,
Excellent communication skills never afraid to ask questions.

What We Offer:

Annual Bonus & Annual Salary Reviews
Electric Car Scheme
Salary Sacrifice Pension Scheme
Flexible Working
27 Days Holiday, including your birthday a duvet day and Christmas
Holiday ‘buy and sell’ scheme
5 Paid Learning Days, including 1 volunteer day per year
Access to 4,000 Udemy Courses, The Gnomen Workshop, GDC Vault and more
Enhanced Mat/Paternity & Adoption pay
Free Life Assurance - 4x Salary
Free Income Protection Scheme -up to 75%
Free Dental Insurance
Supportive Employee Assistance Programme with confidential 24/7/365 helpline & app
Access remote GP, Mental Health, Physio appointments & medical second opinions
Additional flexible benefits scheme
Cycle to Work Scheme
Mental Health First Aiders
Payroll Giving Scheme
Game & Book Libraries
Long service & project completion awards
Wrap Parties
Alternative Travel Prize Draw
The Sumo GameJam
Great family events
Studio clubs, inc. running, board games, film…
Life Drawing
Yoga Classes
Free fruit and drinks
Employee Referral Bonus
Career Development
Relocation Support to the UK
Visa Sponsorship

Where do we stand on diversity?

At Sumo Digital, we know that diversity and inclusivity will make our teams (and the amazing work that they do) better! We encourage and welcome ALL applications.

More About The Sumo Newcastle Studio:

Sumo Digital is one of the UK's most prolific game developers, enjoying over fifteen years of stability and growth. We have UK studios in Sheffield, Newcastle, Nottingham, Leamington Spa, The Chinese Room in Brighton and Red Kite Games in Leeds, along with Sumo Video Games in Pune, India.

We offer a superb benefits package including generous holidays and flexi-time. We care about our people, with an emphasis on the work/life balance and out of office events such as our legendary annual Sumo ‘Big Day Out’, plus epic Christmas parties and much more! Our regular studio Game Jams are a highlight - winning concepts can go on to commercial release, so far including Snake Pass and Spyder for Apple Arcade.

We are proud to be in the North-East of England, in our new, purpose-built, state-of-the-art facilities in Riga. Newcastle was voted the number one place that travellers should visit in 2018 by Rough Guide and has everything that a major European city has to offer; culture, heritage, lively bars and fantastic retail. It is an exciting cosmopolitan city while also boasting plenty of beautiful outdoor space including several beaches less than an hour’s drive away.

Our environment is relaxed, friendly and built on every team member having the opportunity to shine and have real, meaningful input into the games that we create. We pride ourselves on our positive atmosphere and sociable team who regularly partake in shared interest groups, lunchtime and after-work clubs, and charity fundraising events.